Mike Johnson Risks Becoming the Next Kevin McCarthy

House Speaker Mike Johnson is at risk of facing a similar wrath from his Republican colleagues which ultimately led to the ousting of his predecessor Kevin McCarthy as a government shutdown looms.

Johnson faces his first major test as newly elected House speaker as he tries to win GOP support to back his stopgap funding bill as the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on Friday, November 17.

The Louisiana Republican has laid out a “laddered” CR that would result in some funding running out in January with the rest expiring in early February. In the past, hard-line Republicans have spoken against any sort of temporary spending measure to avoid a shutdown. In late September, the House under McCarthy’s leadership managed to pass a stopgap 47-day CR, which he had to negotiate with the Democrats in order to force it through the lower chamber.

The result led to McCarthy being ousted as House speaker after Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida introduced a motion to vacate which passed in a 216-210 vote on October 3 after eight House Republicans supported it.

Johnson must now try find a balance to work with Democrats to support his CR to avoid a shutdown, which the White House has already dismissed as an “extreme” and “unserious proposal,” while simultaneously try to unite the fractured GOP conference, which not only forced the ousting of McCarthy but also spent three weeks trying to elect his replacement.

The bill put forward by Johnson does not include any aid to Israel amid its ongoing war with Palestinian militant group Hamas, but does include billions being cut to IRS funding, a move which has previously been supported by GOP figures but has been soundly rejected by Democrats.

Some hard-line House Republicans have already come out and said they will not be supporting the CR put forward by Johnson.

“My opposition to the clean CR just announced by the Speaker to the @HouseGOP cannot be overstated,” Texas Rep. Chip Roy posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Funding [former Democratic House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi level spending & policies for 75 days—for future ‘promises.'”

Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene added: “I voted NO to both CRs before and I’m voting NO to this clean CR.”

Greene’s post was in response to PunchBowl News founder Jake Sherman describing Johnson’s bill as a “clean CR. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“This is what McCarthy got booted for,” Sherman added.

Rep. Gaetz, who spearheaded the ousting of McCarthy as House speaker, also hinted at the pressure Johnson is under as he tries to get his laddered stopgap bill passed, which he may need to negotiate with Democrats to clear.

“There is much more to do—as we can see,” Gaetz posted on X in response to praise he got in getting McCarthy removed.

“Speaker Johnson won’t make all our dreams come true—as we can see. But we showed the Swamp doesn’t win every battle. And we have a better chance for more victories to come.”

Johnson’s office has been contacted for comment via email.

Johnson’s bill has been supported by some House Republicans, including hard-line members.

“I like the ladder approach,” Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, told NBC News. “I think if we try to pass some appropriations bills, we’re doing better than we’ve done in the past.”

However, Democrats have already stated they will not support what Johnson has put forward, increasing the risk of a government shutdown.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected the so-called laddered approach in Johnson’s stopgap bill.

“A continuing resolution that is at the fiscal year 2023 levels is the only way forward, because that’s the status quo,” he said.

In a statement on Saturday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “This proposal is just a recipe for more Republican chaos and more shutdowns—full stop. With just days left before an Extreme Republican Shutdown—and after shutting down Congress for three weeks after they ousted their own leader—House Republicans are wasting precious time with an unserious proposal that has been panned by members of both parties.”

Johnson has urged his Republican colleagues to support his two-step continuing resolution, describing it as a “necessary bill” that puts the GOP in the “best position to fight for conservative victories.”

“The bill will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess,” Johnson said.

“With our debt spiraling out of control, the rising costs of ‘Bidenomics’ hurting families, and our Southern border wide open, House Republicans must position ourselves best to fight for the American people.”